60% of channel desilting work over in Cauvery delta region

Trichy: Water resources department (WRD) has completed 60% of channel desilting work across approximately 7,400km in the Cauvery delta region, ahead of the upcoming irrigation water release. Officials said that all works will be completed by the first week of June.More than 4,008km of A and B channels is being desilted in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai through 672 works worth more than Rs62.8 crore since March 7. As of May 16, the average progress stands at 62%, with Thanjavur at 82.5%, Tiruvarur at 56.7%, Nagapattinam at 47.3%, and Mayiladuthurai at 63.3%."Desilting works in the delta districts are progressing smoothly and will be completed by the first week of June, before Mettur Dam is opened for irrigation," a senior WRD official told TOI.In the central districts (Trichy, Karur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, and Pudukottai), the department is desilting over 774 km of channels through 237 works at a total cost Rs32.6 crores, with an average progress of 78%. District-wise progress includes Trichy (83%), Karur (45.4%), Ariyalur (86.9%), Perambalur (82.3%), and Pudukottai (92.3%).Overall, under the special desilting scheme, WRD is desilting 4,972 km of A and B channels through 959 works across 12 Cauvery basin districts with a budget of Rs100 crore.Nagapattinam MLA M H Jawahirullah has urged the govt to ensure thorough desilting of all irrigation and drainage channels. "The state govt should ensure that water is distributed without any obstructions and reaches the tail-end farmers. The progress of these works should also be discussed with farmers," he said.Meanwhile, the agricultural engineering department is set to begin desilting 2,375 km of C and D channels at a cost of Rs10 crore in seven districts: Trichy, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Ariyalur, and Cuddalore.Additionally, rural development department will desilt smaller interior branching channels (E, D, and F categories) under Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G).